je suis non-binaire
To say "I am non-binary" in French, use je suis non-binaire.
This phrase is a statement used by a person whose gender identity is not exclusively male or female.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Belgium, one might use the phrase Je suis en dehors de la binarité de genre to mean "I am outside the gender binary". In Quebec, the phrase Je suis hors du système binaire des genres can be used to mean "I am outside the binary gender system".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase je suis non-binaire uses the masculine/neutral form of the adjective.
Did you know?
- Because French is a heavily gendered language, non-binary people often create their own pronouns, such as iel (a blend of il and elle), to avoid using je suis non-binaire with exclusively masculine or feminine grammar.
- To make the phrase je suis non-binaire inclusive in writing, some people use the 'mid-dot', writing it as non-binair·e to visually signal both masculine and feminine endings simultaneously.
- In France, the 'Académie Française', which acts as the official guardian of the language, has historically resisted the official recognition of non-binary grammar and inclusive writing.
Examples in context
- Tu es un homme ou une femme?
En fait, je suis non-binaire.Are you a man or a woman?
Actually, I am non-binary. - Je suis non-binaire et j'utilise les pronoms il/iel.I am non-binary and I use the pronouns he/them.
- Est-ce que je peux me présenter ? Je suis non-binaire.Can I introduce myself? I am non-binary.
- Il est important pour moi de dire que je suis non-binaire.It is important to me to say that I am non-binary.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their identities at a cafe.
- NathanJe voulais te dire que je suis non-binaire.I wanted to tell you that I am non-binary.
- EmmaMerci de me l'avoir dit, Nathan.Thank you for telling me, Nathan.
- NathanEst-ce que c'est un problème pour toi ?Is that a problem for you?
- EmmaPas du tout, je respecte ton identité.Not at all, I respect your identity.
